AEW Collision debut episode

*AEW Collision* debut episode
AEW Collision debut episode
	Promotional poster featuring several AEW wrestlers
Promotion	All Elite Wrestling
Brand(s)	AEW Collision
Date	June 17, 2023
City	Chicago, Illinois
Venue	United Center
Attendance	9,280
Collision special episodes chronology
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The AEW Collision debut episode was the pilot episode for the American television program AEW Collision, produced by the professional wrestling promotion of All Elite Wrestling. The show took place at the United Center in Chicago and was broadcast live on TNT on June 17, 2023.^[1]

Five matches were contested as a part of the episode; in the opening bout, Luchasaurus defeated the reigning champion Wardlow for the AEW TNT Championship. Also, in the main event, CM Punk and FTR defeated Samoa Joe, Jay White and Juice Robinson in a Trios match.

Background

Collision's debut episode marked the return of CM Punk to active competition in AEW after a nine-month suspension, following a legitimate fight with The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega after All Out's post media scrum, vacating the AEW World Championship he had won earlier that day against Jon Moxley.^[2]

Storylines

**Other on-screen personnel**
Role:	Name:
Commentator	Kevin Kelly
	Jim Ross (main event)
	Nigel McGuinness
Interviewer	Lexy Nair
Ring announcer	Dasha Gonzalez
Referee	Rick Knox
	Bryce Remsburg
	Aubrey Edwards
	Paul Turner

The event included matches that resulted from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.^[3] Results were predetermined by AEW's writers.^[4]

Event

The event took place at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Reception

The episode received an average viewership of 816,000 viewers, and a 0.33 rating in the 18–49 demographic.^[5] It sold an estimated 9,280 tickets.^[6]